CLEVELAND — Anunoby’s Comeback Sparks Knicks’ Momentum
OG Anunoby’s return on Saturday night marked a significant shift from his pre-injury form. After a slight right hamstring strain sidelined him during the Eastern Conference semifinals, he was back for the Conference Finals.
In the initial games against Cleveland, he showed promise, but it was in Game 3 where he truly shined. Anunoby dominated the Cavaliers, finishing with 21 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists, leading the Knicks to a 121-108 victory and putting them up 3-0 in the series.
“I feel better every day,” Anunoby remarked, praising the support from the medical staff and his teammates. “We’re getting stronger each game.” However, he did show some signs of rust in the first two games, which is understandable after a 12-day absence.
What matters is that he’s back, healthy, and contributing to the team’s successes. In the first game of the series, he played a crucial part, scoring 6 points during overtime, and in Game 2, he shot 5 of 8 from the field, including two 3-pointers.
On Saturday, he was particularly dangerous from long range, making 3 of 4 three-point attempts, and was instrumental in driving the Knicks’ transition game.
Looking back, the Knicks may have gotten lucky with Anunoby’s injury. Two years prior, a hamstring issue affected their chances against the Pacers in the Eastern Conference semifinals, but this time, it wasn’t as severe.
Comments from Coach Brown reflected the team’s reliance on him: “OG was great. He just kept putting points on the board.” Before his injury, Anunoby was averaging impressive statistics—21.4 points, 7.5 rebounds, 1.9 steals, and 1.1 blocks per game in the playoffs.
His shooting was remarkable, hitting 53.8 percent from the field while converting on nearly 5 three-point attempts per game. The Knicks thrived with him on the court, outscoring their opponents by 20 points per 100 possessions.
During this playoff run, which has seen the Knicks approaching a 10-game winning streak and one win away from the Finals for the first time in nearly three decades, Anunoby’s role has been critical. “We need this version of OG to win it all,” said teammate Jalen Brunson. “He’s locked in and doing what we know he can do.” It really feels like something special is brewing with this team.
